Robe-lock.



P. G. BROWN.

ROBE LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.2, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915 Witnesses Inventor a" Attorneys THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGYON D. C.

@T EN @FFTfi.

PHILIP eormon'nnown, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ROBE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1914. Serial No. 875,160.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP GORDON BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Robe-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

i The present invention appertains to a robe lock adapted particularly for use as an automobile accessory and designed to hold or clamp the robes or garments in a secure manner, to prevent the theft thereof.

This invention contemplates the provision of a robe lock of unique construction and havingv means for clamping or gripping the robes or garments and also having key-controlled means for opening and closing the clamp or holder.

llt is also within the scope of the invention to provide a robe lock of comparatively simple, inexpensive, compact and non-en- .cumbering construction, which will be foolproof, whichmay be readily and conveniently applied to an automobile body so as to be-associated with the robe rail-or rack,

and which will be convenient, efficient and practical in its use..

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combinatlon and arrangement of parts and 1n the details of constructlon hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the robe look as applied below the robe rail and in the act ofholdingor gripping the robe or a garment. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of thelock. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the lock, with the back plate or disk removed. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line H-Of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front view of the lock. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the key for the lock, in folded condition. Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view of the key in unfolded position, parts broken away. I v The present appliance or attachment embodies a casel of cylindrical or other suitjable contour, and having outstanding ears or lugs 2 at its rear end for attaching the PatentedFeb.23,191l-5.

same to the body B of an automobile, or to i any other suitable support to which the device is to be applied. The other or forward end of the case 1 is provided with a tongueshaped jaw 3 projecting radially or at right angles therefrom, there being a reinforcing or bracing web 4 between the jaw 3 and the case 1. The case 1 and aforesaid parts carried thereby arepreferably in the form of ,a unitary casting, although they may be constructed in various manners.

The case 1 is provided with a longitudinal circular bore 5 extending therethrough and a 'featherway 5 with an enlarged circular socket or recess 6 at the inner or rear end of the bore 5, and with a still larger circular recess or depression 7 next outside the socket or recess 6.

Atongue-shaped movable jaw 8 cooperates with or complements the fixed or stationary jaw 3, and is provided at its basal .or butt portion with a perpendicularly extending shank 9 fitting slidably within the vided with a longitudinally circular bore 10 I extending through the basal portion of the jaw 8 to the outer side thereof, the inner or rear end of the'bore 10 being provided with a screw-threaded portion 11, the threads of which are of the square type.

A screw 12 having square screw threads, is threaded through the threaded portion 11 of the bore 10, and is provided with an out wardly or forwardlv projecting stem 13 projecting within the bore 10 of the shank 9 and jaw 8 carried thereby. A collar 14 is provided upon the stem 13 of the screw 12, adjacent the free or outer end of the stem v13, and fits snugly within the bore 10, the

outer or protruding portion 15 of the stem 18 being squared or otherwise formed for the engagement of the key. The collar 14 serves three functions, namely, it serves to hold the stem 13 of the screw 12 properly in place within the bore 10, it limits the in- I sertion of the key upon the stem 13, and it limits the movement of the jaw 8 away from the jaw 3, since a shoulder 15 of the bore 10 formed by the screw threaded portion 11 will contact with the collar 14 before the screw threaded portion 11 of the movable jaw disengages the screw 12.

The inner or rear end of the screw 12 is provided with a finger or stub 16 engaged through a circular slotted plate or washer 17 seated snugly within the recess or socket 6, and a retaining collar 18 is provided upon the protruding or free end of the finger or stub 16 and bears or seats against the washer or disk 17 to prevent the outward or forward movement of the screw 12, but to enable the screw to rotate readily. The washer 17 is radially slotted at 17 to facilitate the assembling of the parts of the lock by engaging the same laterally with the neck formed by the stem of the screw between the end of the latter and the collar 18.

A back plate or disk 19 is fitted snugly and secured within the recess or depression 7 to close the rear or inner end of the case 1. The plate or disk 19 holds the screw 12 in place against rearward or inward movement.

In applying the robe lock to an automobile body B, as suggested in Fig. 1, the case 1 is preferably secured to the automobile body immediately below the robe rail or rack R with the jaws 3 and 8 projecting properly, so that when the robe or garment G is thrown or placed over the rail B, it may be introduced or inserted between the jaws of the lock to be gripped and securely held therebetween, to prevent the robe or garment being stolen.

It will be noted that the case or element which supports the stationary jaw is provided with the means for attachment to the vehicle, whereby the space within the vehicle, occupied by the look when at its robeengaging or closed adjustment is minimized, and the key seat or operating end of the j aw-adjusting element, consisting of the screw, is accessible at the front or outer face of the movable jaw, and also, that the screw serves to both forcibly move the jaw, to compress the interposed portion of the robe, and to lock or hold said jaw in its adjusted position.

The lock L is operated or controlled through the medium of a key K which as illustrated embodies a handle 20 having a I key shank 21 pivoted therein, the free end of the key shank 21 having a socket bit 22 'engageable over the squared or protruding end 15 of the screw stem 13. The key handle 20 is provided with a recess 23 into which the shank 21 is swingable, to enable the key to be compactly folded, so as to be readily carried in the pocket, and whereby the shank 21 may be swung outwardly, as

seen in Fig. 7, to enable the key to be employed for opening or closing the jaws of the lock.

The jaws of the lock are opened and closed by inserting the key into the mouth or outer end of the bore 10 so as to engage the screw stem 13, and then by rotating the key in one direction or the other, the jaws may be separated or moved toward one another, as desired, to either release or clam the robe, garment, or other article. It w1ll be noted that when the screw 12, which is held against longitudinal movement within the case, is rotated, it will cause the shank 9 of the jaw 8 to travel longitudinally in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which the screw is rotated, and whereby the jaw 8 will be moved correspondingly.

The working parts of the present device are concealed or housed so as to prevent tampering therewith, it being noted that the squared or key-engaging portion 15 of the screw stem 13 is housed and protected within the bore 10 of the jaw 8 and its shank 9, so that the screw cannot be actuated without the use of a suitable or proper key. It is evident that the key-engaging portions of the key and screw stem may be altered in various manners, to afford a number of key changes, in order that special keys may be required for the locks when put on the market.

The present lock provides a serviceable and valuable accessory for an automobile, for securely holding the robes and garments to prevent the theft thereof, while the occupant or occupants of the automobile or motor car are absent. The other advantages and capabilities of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, it is thought, without further comment being deemed necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A vehicle robe lock, adapted for location below a robe-rail and having an inner or rear stationary jaw member provided with means for attachment to a vehicle body, an outer or front movable jaw member mounted on the stationary jaw member and movable horizontally from front to rear thereof, and jawadjusting and holding means, having a key-seat accessible at the outer or front face of the movable jaw.

2. A vehicle-robe lock having a stationary jaw member including a tubular case for attachment to a vehicle body, the bore of the case terminating at its rear or inner end in a recess, a movable jaw member having a tubular shank slidably mounted in the bore of the case, and means for operating the movable jaw member including a screw, threaded in the bore of the tubular shank, having a key-seat at its outer or front end and having a reduced neck at its inner or rear end, and a radially slotted detachable plate engaged with said neck and seated in the recess of the case.

3. A vehicle robe lock having a stationary jaw member provided with a tubular case, attachable to a vehicle body, a movable jaw having a tubular shank mounted in said case, a feed screw swiveled in the case at its rear or inner end, threaded in the shank of the movable jaw member, and having a keyseat at its front or outer end, a collar carried by the feed screw and fitting in the bore of the tubular shank, and a stop shoulder in the bore of the shank for cooperation with 15 the collar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP GORDON BROWN.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. MACDONALD, CHARLES F. McCoMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

ashinmon, D. 0. 

